"Mastering Phrasal Verbs: Your Guide to Fluent English"

Let's get into one of the hardest topics about English! If you have read the title, then you already know what we will be diving into. Phrasal verbs are loved by some and hated by others. They can be very challenging to pick up, but you must keep on trying as they will dramatically improve your fluency and understanding of the English language. Today we will go over the basics of phrasal verbs and why they are important. Remember, when you feel like giving up, you must carry on

What is a phrasal verb?

A phrasal verb is a verb with a particle (adverb or preposition) that when put together forms a new meaning separate from the original words. It can be helpful to think of phrasal verbs as vocabulary. This means that you can consider it as one word. One of the more difficult aspects of learning phrasal verbs is that some phrasal verbs can have more than meaning. However, you will be able to understand the different meanings based on the context. Now we will go over the types of phrasal verbs.

Types of phrasal verbs

There are four types of phrasal verbs:

1. Transitive

2. Intransitive

3. Separable

4. Inseparable

We will go over each briefly, however, I would recommend focusing more on if a phrasal verb is separable or not.

Transitive Phrasal Verbs

Transitive phrasal verbs take an object. Now, you may wonder what that means, but, chill out (relax), you will see some examples now. Who knows, maybe you have come across (to find something by chance) phrasal verbs and don't even realize it.

1. Turn off: to stop the operation of something. Example: "Please turn off the lights before leaving the room." In this sentence, the lights are the object.

2. Take out: to remove something from a container or a place. Example: "He took out some money from his wallet." In this sentence, some money is the object.

3. Look up: to search for information in a reference source. Example: "You should look up that word in the dictionary." In this sentence, that word is the object.

4. Bring back: to return with something or someone to a place. Example: "I will bring back the book I borrowed from the library." In this sentence, the book is the object.

5. Set up: to arrange or establish something for a particular purpose. Example: "They set up a new business in the city." In this sentence, a new business is the object.

In these examples, the phrasal verbs are transitive, meaning they take a direct object that receives the action. The direct object typically comes after the particle. For instance, "Turn off the lights" or "Look up that word" are correct uses of these transitive phrasal verbs.

Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

Since transitive phrasal verbs take in an object, that means intransitive verbs do not take an object.

1. Wake up: to stop sleeping and become conscious. Example: "I woke up early this morning feeling refreshed."

2. Run out: to use up or deplete the supply of something. Example: "We ran out of milk, so I need to buy some more."

3. Give in: to surrender or agree to something reluctantly. Example: "After a long negotiation, they finally gave in to our demands."

4. Show up: to arrive or appear at a place or an event. Example: "She didn't show up at the party last night."

5. Break down: to stop functioning properly. Example: "My car broke down on the way to work."

In these examples, the phrasal verbs are intransitive, meaning they do not require a direct object to complete their meaning. They stand alone and convey a complete action or state. For instance, "Wake up early," "Run out of milk," and "Break down suddenly" are correct uses of these intransitive phrasal verbs.

Separable Phrasal Verbs Time for a quiz! Which phrasal verb is correct?

1. I will pick up the kids

2. I will pick the kids up

Trick question because both are correct. Some phrasal verbs can be separated. When a phrasal verb can be separated the object, when it is a noun, can go in between the verb and the particle, as well as after the particle.

1. Take off (separated): She took off her jacket before entering the room. Take off (not separated): She took her jacket off before entering the room.

2. Put on (separated): He put on his favorite hat and went for a walk. Put on (not separated): He put his favorite hat on and went for a walk.

3. Give back (separated): Please give back the book I lent you last week. Give back (not separated): Please give the book I lent you last week back.

4. Turn on (separated): She turned on the TV to watch her favorite show. Turn on (not separated): She turned the TV on to watch her favorite show.

5. Pick up (separated): He picked up the package from the doorstep. Pick up (not separated): He picked the package up from the doorstep.

In the separated form, the particle is separated from the main verb by the direct object, while in the non-separated form, the particle is placed directly after the main verb with no direct object in between. Both forms are correct and convey the same meaning.

Of course, there are exceptions. So, once again we will ask another question. Which phrasal verb is correct?

1. I will pick up him

2. I will pick him up.

The correct answer is number two. When you have a separable phrasal verb, and the object is a pronoun, the phrasal verb is always separated. In the case of a noun, it does not matter, but with a pronoun it does. So once again, when a phrasal verb is separable and the object is a pronoun, the pronoun must go in the middle.

1. Take off:

• With a noun: She took off her shoes before entering the house.

• With a pronoun: She took them off before entering the house.

2. Put on:

• With a noun: He put on his glasses to read the newspaper.

• With a pronoun: He put them on to read the newspaper.

3. Give back:

• With a noun: Please give back the pen you borrowed from me.

• With a pronoun: Please give it back to me.

4. Turn on:

• With a noun: She turned on the lights when it got dark.

• With a pronoun: She turned them on when it got dark.

5. Pick up:

• With a noun: He picked up the phone to answer the call.

• With a pronoun: He picked it up to answer the call.

In the first set of examples, the noun (shoes, glasses, pen, lights, phone) acts as the direct object and comes after the main verb and the particle. In the second set of examples, the pronoun (them, it) acts as the direct object and also comes between the main verb and the particle. The separability of these phrasal verbs allows for flexibility in using both nouns and pronouns as the direct objects.

It is common to ask if there are rules for when a phrasal verb is separable. Unfortunately, there are none, you just have to learn each phrasal verb. Do not worry though, as they are a part of everyday language you will see them and pick them up naturally.

Inseparable Phrasal Verbs. Almost there! I know some of you must be looking forward to finishing this article. Now, we have inseparable phrasal verbs. With phrasal verbs, there can be two-part phrasal verbs and three-part phrasal verbs. Look at the first sentence of the paragraph and you will see a three-part phrasal verb. Thankfully, there is at least one rule with inseparable phrasal verbs. A three-part phrasal verb is always inseparable. This means that the object always goes after the three-part phrasal verb.

1. Look up:

• Correct: I always look up to my older brother for guidance.

• Incorrect: I always look my older brother up for guidance.

2. Stand up:

• Correct: The audience stood up to applaud the performers.

• Incorrect: The audience stood the performers up to applaud.

3. Run away:

• Correct: The cat ran away when it saw the dog.

• Incorrect: The cat ran the dog away when it saw.

4. Break down:

• Correct: The car broke down on the highway.

• Incorrect: The car broke the highway down.

5, Take over:

• Correct: The new manager will take over the department next month.

• Incorrect: The new manager will take the department over next month.

In the correct examples, the inseparable phrasal verbs are used appropriately, and the meaning is clear. In the incorrect examples, the phrasal verbs are used incorrectly, leading to confusing or nonsensical sentences. It's important to use inseparable phrasal verbs correctly to ensure effective communication.

Summary

In conclusion, phrasal verbs include a verb and particle (adverb or preposition) that when put together form a new meaning. There are two-part phrasal verbs and three-part phrasal verbs. Some phrasal verbs have more than one meaning, however, based on the context you will be able to tell the difference. conclusion. When learning phrasal verbs, it is best to think about them as vocabulary.

Vocabulary

Here is a list of phrasal verbs used and some of their meanings.

Get into

Meaning: Begin or Start Doing Something:

• It can indicate the start of an action or activity.

• Example: "Let's get into the meeting agenda."

• In other words, lets start the meeting.

Dive into

Dive into" is a phrasal verb that commonly means to start doing something enthusiastically and with great interest. It implies a deep involvement or immersion in an activity or subject.

• It can indicate starting something intensely or energetically.

• Example: "The team dove into the project, working long hours to meet the deadline."

• The team started working enthusiastically.

Pick up

Another phrasal verb with multiple meanings!

• When used in the context of learning, "pick up" is a phrasal verb that means to learn or acquire a new skill or knowledge informally or effortlessly, often by observation or practice rather than through formal instruction. It implies that the learning process was relatively quick and intuitive. Here are some examples of "pick up" in the context of learning:

• "During his internship, he picked up valuable coding skills from his colleagues without attending any formal training."

Keep On

"Keep on" is a phrasal verb that means to continue doing something, persisting in action, or not stopping a particular activity.

• "You should keep on practicing the piano if you want to improve your skills."

• It is similar to, continue, or do not quit.

Go Over

Another phrasal verb with multiple meanings, in this case it means to look at or examine carefully.

• When used in a learning or studying context, "go over" means to review or examine something in detail, such as notes, information, or a document.

• Example: "Before the exam, she decided to go over all her class materials to ensure she was well-prepared."

Give Up

To give up means to quit. Now, depending on the context this can be a good thing or a negative thing. Look at the examples below

• I gave up smoking last year.

• This example is good as they quit smoking.

• The team gave up and lost the game

• This example is bad they quit trying and lost the game.

Carry On

Meaning: Continue or Keep Going:

• When used in the sense of continuing an action or activity, "carry on" means to keep doing something without interruption.

• Example: "Please carry on with your presentation while I fix the technical issue."